Oletha is pleased to share with you regarding reconciled relationships. Relationships can and often end up in conflict. Reconciliation is about restoring relationships.
We live in a Fallen world that came about due to Adam’s Fall in Genesis 3. We also know God reconciled us to Himself and put us in a position to reconcile to fellow man. Oletha’s primary focus in this video is reconciliation with fellow man. In that sense, our relationships are with Fallen people, saved by grace.
Oletha’s theme for the video is from 1 John 3:18, “Dear children, let’s not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth,” from which she covers two points:
- Let who you are, dictate your actions/behavior
- Let your actions/behavior show your love
Imperfect people work together imperfectly and don’t always get it right. It’s like rubbing two sticks together can build up friction to produce fire – As we rub shoulders with others, it can build up friction to create fires of conflict.
We have all experienced conflict that disrupts our lives in some way or another. It can cause stress and sometimes even sleepless nights, yet conflict is unavoidable. We may not be able to avoid conflict, but we can choose how we respond to it. So how should we respond to conflict? Respond to conflict with love. Show love.
Oletha’s overall theme for this lesson is “show love,” which applies to reconciling relationships with others. As Christians, we often talk about the commandment to love one another, but we may let love fly out the window when it comes to conflict. The Bible mandates both love and reconciliation; both require actions. There are blessings in obedience.
Blessed are the peacemakers. A byproduct of peacemaking in a blessing from God. Want love; show love. Whatever you put out comes back to you. In the final analysis, Oletha gives additional pointers for conflict resolution.
